SAT exam takers are on the verge of learning
their test scores. This is usually a terrifying time for
the students. It is even more so nowadays, since scores
have consistently declined over the past four years.
Exam scores have decreased, in part, due to
the increasing number of students taking the exam.
“There has been a big increase in the number
of students who take the SAT, from 1,465,744 in 2006
to 1,494,531 in 2007,” said Patrician Smith, Director of
Guidance Services Hillsborough County Public Schools.
When there are more students taking the SAT,
there is a greater possibility that many students are not
prepared.
“With a wider range of students, the scores
will change,” said Nancy McDuff, Associate VP for
Admissions and Enrollment at University of Georgia.
Contributing to the decline in scores is the fact
thatthe test was redesigned four years ago. The redesign
included the addition of a writing portion.
“It had been discussed for many years, but the
logistics of grading that many essays was not possible
until recently,” said John Barnhill, SAT test committee
member.
The essays are graded on a 6-point grading
scale developed by the SAT test development committee.
Although there is a new addition to the SAT,
the grading level is no more diffi cult than any other year.
“A student that got 600 in the year 2000 should
get the same score in 2007,” said Bernard Phelan, SAT
committee member.
Each section is worth 800 points and in total,
the best score possible is a 2400.
Nearly 1.5 million seniors
took the SAT this year. Hispanic,
African American, and Asian-
American students account for 39%
of the seniors who took the test.
Being part of a minority
taking the SAT, scholarships begin
to become more available. The
diverse ethnicity of the students
gives more students the ability to be
college bound.
There are various ways to
prepare for the SAT of this year.
“The best preparation is to
take a rigorous academic schedule
of classes,” said John Barnhill, SAT
committee member.
“I feel that taking the
PSAT, a short version of the SAT,
is absolutely the best
way to prepare for the SAT,” said
Patrician Smith, Director of Guidance
Services Hillsborough County
Public Schools.
Students that want to take
the SAT also have the option to take
prep courses or studying on their
own.
The resource that many
prep course teachers use is The Offi
cial SAT study guide produced by
College Board. This book focuses
on teaching kids how to improve
their skills in reading, writing and
mathematical areas.
“Students should know
why people use words and what the
purpose of each discourse is,” said
Bernard Phelan, SAT committee
member.
The SAT tests students’ invention
and composition skills, while at the
same time testing mathematical
skills. Because every student takes
the same test, the SAT provides a
standardized means of comparing
students everywhere in America.
The redesign of the test is
based on the needs of the colleges
and when research is pointed in a
different direction.
“I think you should always be open
to change and willing to implement
new components if there are sound
reasons to do so,” said John Barnhill,
SAT test committee member.
“The redesign more accurately
refl ects what is currently
being taught in our country’s high
schools as well as what the universities
and colleges are saying is
important in order to be successful
in their institutions,” said Patrician
Smith, Director of Guidance Services
Hillsborough County Public
Schools.